Stage 2
The second stage of the Tour of Qatar brought more hot weather mixed with crosswinds for the riders, who were making a 138 kilometre journey from Camel Race Track to Al Khor Corniche. As per usual, under these tough conditions, some riders struggled and there were cracks in the peloton. However, Milram and Phonak ensured that everything came back together before the situation got out of hand.

Chocolade Jacques rider Pieter Ghyllebert attacked as things quietened down and was allowed to escape. Taking advantage of the relaxed pace of the pack, the young Belgian led through both of the intermediate sprints, at Al Jernaliya and Al Ghumariya, with an advantage of 14’20” at the latter. However, in the last 45km, the pack turned up the speed, as the Quick Step train rocketed along. In the end, Ghyllebert was caught with four kilometres left.

The sprint was, again, controlled by Quick Step, who put Tom Boonen into a good position, poised to pounce at the 300m mark. For another day, no other rider could match him and the world champion continued his sensational start to the season in taking his third victory in three races. Paride Grillo of Panaria-Navigare was closest to him, followed by the indomitable Erik Zabel (Milram), who took his third podium finish in three races.

Although it may look to some as if Boonen is almost winning races with nonchalant ease, a great deal is down to his Quick Step squad and, more specifically, their “train”. Stephen de Jongh, Kevin van Impe and Matteo Tosatto jumped on board this winter and are all racing with Boonen in Qatar; their work, as well as that of riders’ such as Guido Trenti, has been a contributing factor in ensuring Boonen’s continued success. One imagines, though, that his rivals can’t be best pleased about this improvement: it was hard enough beating him without such a well-schooled leadout train!